Residents like Dick Van Dyke, Kelsey Grammer and James Cameronwho oppose the rocker’s plans to transform Sweetwater Mesa estate, 156-acres in total, into a community of five mountaintop eco-mansions overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu.This may be partly due to the fact that the eco-oasis would be above the celebrity homes, but also perhaps because for the development to work some tricky engineering is required. Including extending a road down rugged elevation, grading 70,000 cubic yards of hillside, and installing water lines to reach the homes… Yikes.

According to Evans website— which he created amidst accusations that his plans for the site weren’t green— of the 156 acres, only one acre of the total land will be developed, leaving “most of the land untouched and in its natural state.” The homes will also blend into the landscape, be LEED-certified, utilize solar panel systems to offset electricity use, and during the building process only recycled and renewable materials and rainwater catchment systems would be used (if you’re going to build anywhere this sounds like the way to do it!).
He bought the land in 2006 and residents have opposed his plan to move forward due to “the environmental impact the development will have.” Now his venture has reached an even bigger roadblock, as state regulators have accused him of trying to get around green laws by concealing who owns the property.

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) has recommended rejecting the plan for Sweetwater Mesa because, according to them, it would cause extensive geological damage and hurt the environmental integrity of the land.

“The California coast is a true natural treasure, and I believe in responsible design that honors such a unique location,” Evans says on his site.

Despite this development, a new proposal from Evans is set to be considered at a CCC meeting this coming May.

What do you think, should Evans plan be approved or is this rejection the best thing?